A Night Out on the ... Clutterbooks!

Our seaside town, with its diverse history and unspoiled nature has offered rest and friendship to Charlotte Bronte, J.R.R. Tolkien and T. E. Lawrence of Arabia. It is a retreat for many popular writers of today and home to internationally renown publishers. Despite its well-established literary connections, woefully, Hornsea did not have a bookshop of its own.

This adventure begins with an invitation to the most influential social gathering of the season. The enticing offer arrived at our weekly Hornsea Writers’ meeting with only days to plan. Imagine the panic!

Fortunately, our four intrepid authors did not need a guide to the galaxy to find their way on a drizzly, cold night best suited to a Dickens novel. Linda Acaster, Penny Grubb, Shellie Horst, and Karen Wolfe battled through crowds to attend the exclusive event of the month: the launch of Clutterbooks, Hornsea’s very own independent bookshop.

The evening didn’t disappoint, with celebratory fizz and cakes on offer, and an enviable guest-list. Guests, dear reader, who in true bookish style, browsed the shelves and chatted in invitingly snug surroundings.

Penny Grubb didn’t miss the chance to snap up a non-fiction book: “I bought one of Alice Roberts’ books on archaeology. I was delighted to spot it on the shelf. She’s a favourite of mine.”

Staying true to Hornsea’s literary traditions, the owner, Georgina Wilson, aims to inspire. Clutterbooks offers a snug for teens and young readers to explore magical worlds, and more uniquely, shelf space to local published writers.

“The shop is cosy, welcoming, and immediately interesting. Having a separate children’s area is also a great idea,” Karen Wolfe said.

Linda’s experience in the industry showed, noting: “Having a shelf for Local Authors will open eyes, especially for teenage readers who may believe that writing a novel is only an enterprise for perceived ‘elites’.”

Penny, in her element among the bookshelves, pointed out: “Indie bookshops have books and good writing as their focus in a way that big shops (on or offline) don’t.

Joy Stonehouse with the tempting literary range. “She does have gifts related to books.”

Hornsea Writers spent the evening in the good company of councillors, tutors, artists, and national media, but the adventure for Georgina and Clutterbooks doesn’t end there. There’s a story behind how this little bookshop found its place in Hornsea, too. One Georgina will be happy to share when you visit.

All the Hornsea Writers wish Clutterbooks good luck and agree with Linda: “A bookshop is definitely the place to have a ‘night out’.”  

Reviews: Thick Skin, Owning Your Wins & A Happy Snoopy Dance Moment – Shellie Horst

Rounding off this series on reviews, Hornsea Writer Shellie Horst shares a different perspective. ‘Readers, and audiences,’ Shellie points out, ‘are the most important part of the creative process if you write for a market. If they don’t pick up your work, agents can’t agent, editors are stuck, publishers can’t publish, marketing departments are out of work, libraries have nothing new to put on the shelves, and all those amazing bookstores we love so much are out of business.’

The Thick Skin and Owning Your Wins.

Shellie writes for different markets, so reviews and thoughts on her work, come in all sorts of different forms.

‘As a journalist,’ she says, ‘I write freelance articles for publications in the Yorkshire area, most often The Hornsea and Holderness Gazette. Readers are happy to tell me how much they enjoyed a piece face to face, how it improved things in some way. Like with writing fiction, it helps to know your market. East Yorkshire is primarily rural, with a large coastline. The issues people face are different to inner city life. For some outlets and groups, I am their writer of choice.’

Feedback can come at unexpected times. ‘A reader once stopped me in the street,’ she says. ‘He told me he no longer believed everything he read on Facebook, saying,

“Thank you so much for the simple explanation, I didn’t understand that there’s only two masts in the area, and why I kept missing my carer. Let me buy you a drink.”

‘Dear reader, I said no, but thanked him for his kindness. Little wins add up, but they can get lost in the process.’

Shellie goes on to say, ‘The warm glow of getting it right doesn’t come with every piece. News is a funny thing, it’s personal in many ways. It impacts business, life, and politics. Everyone has an opinion. Negative feedback does come, but usually via the office. It can be personal, angry, and sometimes rude. It helps to remember news articles cover passions and hard work. ITV’s series, The Hack explores the impact of reporting on personal life well. I’m fortunate the editor at Holderness News insists on ethical reporting, with balanced articles with actual sources. I couldn’t just make any old thing up.’

A Happy Snoopy Dance moment

Shellie’s short fiction has appeared in several anthologies. Distaff: A Science Fiction Anthology by Female Authors, was nominated for a British Science Fiction award. The anthology received a lot of attention. Book Reviewer and blogger Peat Long said of Shellie’s story My Little Mecha,

“…That story made me miss my train stop.”

Who hasn’t stayed up hours into the night wanting to get to the end of a book, or the next episode of their favourite show? Shellie says, ‘While I feel bad for Peat having to double back on his journey, knowing my work transported him to another world is a huge compliment.’

The same story received an “It was fine” from another review on Good Reads.

The Power of Reviews.

Shellie goes on to talk about the creative writing workshops she delivers, saying, ‘Reviewing work brings lots of laughter, and builds critical thinking, and in turn, writing talent. We explore whether or not it’s wise to read reviews. A negative review is often something that holds a writer back. Just like the critique and developmental feedback we share at the Hornsea Writers weekly group, reviews may help form your writing, and the must-have ‘thick skin’. The fear of one-star reviews shouldn’t hold you back. It can be a source of creative - defiant joy, as Hull author Louise Beech did in her funny found poem, Amazon Should Do Zero Stars.’

‘Readers are quick to put themselves down at Humber SFF events too. I’m always grateful. It’s the reader that keeps publishing and my writing going.’

Shellie Horst is an award-nominated author, freelance journalist and creative writing tutor. You can follow her on the social media you love: https://linktr.ee/shelliehorst or sign up for updates on her website: https://shelliehorst.com. 

Read more about Shellie Horst HERE.